Canadian women's basketball team hosts Turkey in three-game series

Canada's head coach Lisa Thomaidis looks on as they play China in the preliminary round of women's basketball action at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Canada's women's basketball team will host Turkey in an exhibition series in July, as part of the team's preparation for the 2018 World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

May 17, 2018 - 9:27 AM

EDMONTON - Canada's women's basketball team will host Turkey in an exhibition series in July, as part of the team's preparation for the 2018 World Cup.

The three-game series — the Edmonton Grads International Classic — is July 4, 6 and 7 at Edmonton's Saville Community Sports Centre.

"Playing at home is always an honour and privilege and one that our entire team and staff look forward to," women's coach Lisa Thomaidis said in a release. "We can't wait to get back on the court to play against a world class team in Turkey this July."

Canada is a program-high fifth in the FIBA world rankings after winning the FIBA Americas title last summer. Turkey is No. 7-ranked and a fifth-place finish at FIBA EuroBasket earned the country a spot in the Women's Basketball World Cup, Sept. 22-30 in Tenerife, Spain.

The Canadians were fifth in the world tournament in 2014, their best result since capturing bronze in 1986.

Prior to the Edmonton Grads tournament, named in honour of the women's basketball team in the early-1900s, Thomaidis will hold national team tryouts June 15-21, and training camp June 22-July 3.

Canada hosted China in the Edmonton Grads International Classic in 2016, and Brazil in 2014.

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